British Columbia

British Columbia is Canada's most westerly province. It is a mountainous area whose population is mainly clustered in the southwestern corner. It is a land of diversity and contrast within small areas. Coastal landscapes, characterized by high, snow-covered mountains rising above narrow fjords and inlets, contrast with the broad forested upland of the central interior and the plains of the northeast.

British Columbia is famous for its spectacular mountains and beautiful coastal scenery, which are well represented in the many provincial and federal parks, including Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier, and Pacific Rim National Park. Excellent salmon fishing and other water sports at Vancouver Island attract tourists; hunting, hiking, and camping are also popular. BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, one of the largest air-supported domes in the world, was built for Expo '86 and is the home of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League. The Vancouver Canucks, a professional ice-hockey team, belongs to the National Hockey League.

British Columbia is separated from Alberta by the Great Divide, the geographical boundary that determines whether running water flows east to Hudson's Bay or west to the Pacific. BC is similar to Northern California, Oregon, and Washington State, in that it has mountains, a border on the Pacific Ocean, and a temperate climate. BC has some of the last intact rainforest in the world. The demographics have changed rather dramatically over the last decade or so as thousands of Asian immigrants (especially people from Hong Kong) have arrived.

Pacific Rim National Park

The varied beauty and natural resources of British Columbia's coastal and inland regions provide a rich arena for outdoor activities. Pacific Rim National Park, above, located on the western shore of Vancouver Island, is a popular recreational spot. Other natural wonders of BC include the wettest spot in North America (Henderson Lake with nearly 6550 millimetres of rain each year); Della Falls - Canada's highest waterfall at 440 metres; and BC coastal waters are the exclusive home to the giant octopus.